Lock



Feb. 6, i923. 1,444,524). R. L- OPEL.

LOCK- HLED AUG.$3,1 921- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY is supported at an elevation.

Patented Feb. 6, i923.

UlT STATES lt ldlltllila LOCK.

Application filed August 13, 1921. Serial No. 492,204.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronnnr L. OPEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkins, in the county of Randolph and State of lVest Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locks, of which the following is a specification.

In certain railway circles a lighted lamp In some instances, it is necessary for the attendant to climb a ladder to obtain access to the lamp, while in other instances, the lamp is supported by a cable which is trained around pulleys on the arm of a post. In the first instance, there is involved a determined amount of physical exertion and loss of time on the part of the attendant while in the second instance, the supporting cable for the lamp, which usually has its lower end wound around a cleat on the post, is liable to become accidentally released which results in the falling of the lamp.

It is the object of the present invention to produce a means whereby a single lamp will be locked in elevated position and will not depend upon the elevating cord or cable therefor for retaining the said lamp suspended.

It is a further object to produce a locking means for signal lamps or the like in which the cable that supports the lamp is trained through the lock, and a pull thereon will release the lamp to permit the same to descend with the unwinding of the cable, a pull in an opposite direction, to elevate the lamp actuating parts of the lock for so engaging with the cable as to hold the same against further movement, and thus effectively suspend the lamp from the lock.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction, combination and operative association of parts, such as is disclosed by the drawings which accompany and which form part of this specification.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view illustrating a lamp suspended and sustained in locked position in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged elevation of the lock, with one of the side plates removed, the parts being positioned to hold the lamp suspendin cable against movement in either direction.

Figure 3 is a similar view with parts broken away and parts in section, showing the arrangement 01": the parts of the lock after a pull has been exerted on the cable to permit of the lowering of the lamp.

Figure is a sectional view on the line of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates a suitable post having an angle arm 2 from which is designed to be supported and looked a signal lamp, in accordance with this invention. The lock is broadly indicated by the numeral 3, and is suspended, in any desired manner, such for instance by means 4 from the outer end of the arm 2. The post 1, adjacent to the lower end thereof and on the face thereof provided with the arm 2 has a snap or cleat 5 which is designed to en gage with or have engaged thereby the lower end of a cable 6. The cable is trained around a sheave wheel or pulley 7 at the juncture of the arm with the post and may be further trained around a similar sheave wheel or pulley at the outer end of the post, if desired. The cable 6 supports at its upper and outer end a signal lamp 8 and hassecured thereon at a suitable distance away from the lamp a contact element which may be in the nature of a button 9. The portion of the cable beyond the stop button 9 and the lamp 8 passes through an opening 10 in a spacer plate 11 which is arranged between the front and back casings at one of the corners of the lock casing 3. The opposite portion of the cable is trained through an opening 12 in an angle arm 12 that is pivotally secured, as at 13, to one end of a lever l-it, the said lever being pivoted, as at 15, and carrying at its outer end a dog 16 that is influenced by a spring 17 in one direction. The dog is designed to engage with the teeth of aratchet wheel 18 that is journaled in the lock casing on the pivot 15. The cable is trained over suitable pulleys or rollers 19 which are preferably journaled on the elements which connect the side plates of the casing, and is further trained around a sheave wheel 20, at the corner of the casing diagonally opposite that provided with the member 11, and from thence the cable is directed over the sheave wheel 7 and downwardly with respect to the post 1.

The wheel 18 which I have referred to as the ratchet wheel has its periphery provided with two sets of teeth 21 and 22 respectively. The teeth 21 are of a materially less depth than the teeth and the walls 22-3 between the inner edge of the shoulders provided by the teeth 21 and the outer edges of the shoulders provided between the teeth 22 are rounded, while the walls provided. between the inner cues of the shoulders formed by the teeth 22 and the outer portions of the teeth 21 are arranged at inclinations, as indicated by the numeral 24:. Both series of teeth are engaged by the dog 16 when the lever is operated by a downward pull on the cable 6, it being apparent that such movement of the cable will bring the button 9 into contact with the angle element 12 which is pivoted on the lever, and after the dog has turned the wheel 18 a distance equalling that between two of the teeth thereof, a release of the cable will permit of the spring to return the dog and lever to initial positions. This movement of the cable, of course, draws the lamp toward the lock casing.

Pivotally secured, as at 25 in the casing is a lever 26, the said lever being directed toward the end 11 of the casing and being provided with an angle tooth 27 which is of a materially greater size than the tooth of the dog! 16, the said tooth of the lever being held in contact with the periphery of the wheel 18 through the medium of a spring 28. The end of the lever, opposite that provided with the dog is formed with a centrally slotted lug 29 through which the cable passes. The slot in the lug is of a width less than that of the button member 9. As previously stated, a downward pull on the cable 6 will rock the lever 14: and cause the dog 16 to turn the ratchet wheel 18 for a distance equalling the length of one tooth of the said wheel. lVe will suppose that the tooth 27 of the lever 26 engages with one of the teeth 22 of the wheel 18. This brings its lug beyond the opening 10 in the member 11 and out of the path of contact with the button 9, so that a slackening of the cord 6 from the lower end thereof will permit the button 9 to travel through the opening 10 and thus lower the lantern. lVhen the attenda-nt has examined or replenished the with the button 9, and consequently preventing the movement of the cable in one direction.

It will be also apparent that the cable 6 may be detached from its fastenings 5 without permitting the lamp to be influenced thereby, and it is thought that the foregoing description, when taken in connection with the drawings will fully set forth the construction, operation and advantages of the improvement to those skilled in the art to which such inventions relate. It is thought necessary to state, however, that the drawings and description refer only to a satisfactory embodiment of the improvement and that such changes may be made therefrom as fall within the scope of what is claimed. it is also thought necessary to state that the improvement is not to be restricted, in its useful capacity, for the purpose set forth in the description, but may be employed in any other connection in which its use is found desirable.

Having described the invention, I claim 2-- 1. In a device for the purpose set forth, an elevated look, a cable trained through the casing thereof and having an abutment element thereon normally received in the casing, a ratchet wheel pivotally supported in the lock casing, a lever journaled on the pivot of the ratchet wheel, an element on the lever through which the cable is trained and against which the abutment element normally contacts, a dog on the lever engaging the ratchet wheel, spring means for influencing the lever in one position and the dog in engaging position, a second lever pivotally supported in the casing, said lever having an integral dog normally engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, spring means influencing the dog to such position, a slotted lug opposite the dog receiving therethrough the cable andproviding an abutment element for the second side of the contact element on the cable, and whereby, when a pull is exerted on the cable in one direction, the contact element thereon will engage with the element on the first mentioned lever to swing the same to cause the dog on said lever to turn the ratchet wheel and to cause the dog of the second mentioned lever to ride off of one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel into a depression oppositethe tooth to bring the slotted lug thereof away from engagement with the contact element on the cable, and for permitting the cable to travel through the casing in a direction opposite to that upon which the pull was exerted.

2. In a device for the purpose set forth, an elevated lock, a cable trained therethrough and having an abutment element thereon normally received in the lock casing, a wheel pivoted in the lock casing having spaced peripheral teeth certain of which being of a greater depth than the others, and

the said teeth alternating, a lever journaled on the pivot of the wheel, a pivoted element thereon through which the cable passes and against which the abutment element of the cable normally contacts, a pivoted dog on the lever engaging one of the teeth of the wheel, spring means between the lever and casin for brin in the do in tooth en a a: b r: a 1:,

contact with the elevated portion of the wheel and in contact with a shorter tooth of the wheel, and whereby, when a pull is exerted on the cable in one direction the abutment element thereof will engage With the pivoted contact on the first mentioned lever to swing the same tocause the dog to influence the ratchet wheel to bring the dog of the second mentioned lever in engagement with one of the deeper teeth of the wheel, and likewise bring the slotted lug thereof out of engagement with the abutment element on the cable to permit of the said cable being drawn through the lock casing in a direction opposite that to which the pull was exerted.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ROBERT L. OPEL. 

